On June 20, I had the pleasure of being the first guest on the Voice of San Diego’s One Voice at a Time, held at Bird’s Surf Shed.
It was really an honor for me to be part of this kickoff event. Rather than just having the guests listen to me talk about stuff, I decided to try to make it a little more entertaining, while at the same time helping to raise some funds for the nonprofit Voice. And that began my journey into creating some political art for the show, auctioning it off at the event and donating all the proceeds to Voice. Fortunately, there were many kind souls who bid on it and I thank them for that. I also thank all those wonderful folks who came out that night to support the Voice.
The art was inspired by the 2012 mayoral election, Broadway shows and a very interesting opinion piece in U-T San Diego about why the voters pretty much stayed home on Election Day.
For those of you who missed this event, I have put together an audio-visual look at the art show. I am also encouraging the next guest of One Voice at a Time to bring something to the event to auction off to help raise more fun and funds. And it wouldn’t hurt to bring along a small gift for the Voice crew who work like crazy to put together these events. I brought them “Got Voice?” with a battery-operated, lighted head that I’ m sure will be a bright new addition to their office décor.
And now on with the show:
“Impressions of the 2012 Election: Off Broadway”
By Donna Frye
Act 1
Scene 1 — Take a Chance on Me
Mamma Mia! It’s that time again and the 2012 mayoral election begins. Each of the four major candidates enters politics, the “game that ties you up in knots.” The candidates will be required to put themselves in unlikely or precarious positions to make it into the runoff. They hit the campaign trail and ask the voters to “Take A Chance on Me.”
Scene 2 — Razzle Dazzle
Candidate Carl, who is well-versed in the game of politics, locks up the GOP endorsement — reminiscent to some of Chicago-style politics. He embarks on the “‘Razzle Dazzle’ ‘Em Roadshow.”
Scene 3 — Defying Gravity
Candidate Nathan leaves the GOP. Despite some calling his action wicked and calculated, his move to the independent and purple side of politics prompts a surge in his poll numbers. The pundits and pollsters wonder if Nathan will be successful in “Defying Gravity.”
Scene 4 — Ride on the Magic School Bus
Candidate Bonnie, the self-described CEO, stays with the GOP, but takes a more scholarly approach to the campaign. She invites the voters to take a “Ride on The Magic School Bus” with her.
Scene 5 — We Didn’t Start the Fire
Candidate Bob, the only Democrat, likes the idea of movin’ out the GOP, fighting for change and reminding the voters “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
Scene 6 — Is Anybody There?
It’s Election Day and the voters go to the polls. After most of the ballots are counted, it’s obvious that very few people showed up to vote. It may be the lowest voter turnout since 1776, causing those who voted to wonder, “Is Anybody There?“
The daily metro newspaper, Usual Thinking, San Diego (UTSD), run by Pappy and the Lynch Mob says, “Don’t Blame Voters For Not Showing Up.” They didn’t vote because the “stimulus proffered by the candidates had an anti-stimulative effect” and the messages “were dominantly negative.” The UTSD opines that only positive stimulation and entertaining messages should be allowed in the game of politics, because it’s who we are.
Scene 7 — Happy Talk
The non-voting public, bolstered by the UTSD, the smoke blowers and the deep thinkers in the community, continues on in their normal routine. They dream of never uttering the words Enron by the Sea again; they want San Diego to remain a laid-back South Pacific-inspired community. Everyone celebrates by going to Happy Talk Beach for the Big Happy Beach Party where they only talk “Happy Talk.”
Intermission — June 20 was the first day of summer, at 4:09 p.m. to be exact, so no point in worrying with politics today. May as well go “Soak Up the Sun.”
VERY LONG INTERMISSION BEFORE ACT 2
Donna Frye is a former San Diego City Councilwoman.
(Photos by Sam Hodgson.)
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